Zimmerman faces 2nd-degree murder charge in Trayvon's death

BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press, GARY FINEOUT

Updated 12:06 am, Thursday, April 12, 2012

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In this Wednesday, April 11, 2012 photo provided by the Sanford Police Department, George Zimmerman is shown in a booking photo. Zimmerman, 28, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder Wednesday after weeks of mounting tensions and protests across the country. O'Mara said Zimmerman would plead not guilty. (AP Photo/Sanford Police Department)

In this Wednesday, April 11, 2012 photo provided by the Sanford Police Department, George Zimmerman is shown in a booking photo. Zimmerman, 28, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot 17-year-old Trayvon

State Attorney Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, center, announces that George Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin during a news conference Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin as he walked home in Sanford, Fla. on Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Wilson)

State Attorney Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, center, announces that George Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin during a

MSNBC-TV host Rev Al Sharpton(L), Attorney Benjamin Crump(C) and mother Sybrina Fulton(Rt) are seen at a mid-day press conference regarding her slain son, Trayvon Martin, where they called for justice and the arrest of George Zimmerman, during a press conference April 11, 2012, inside the Washington, DC, Convention Center using facilities provided by the National Action Network. As the press conference was in progress Sanford, Florida, authorities announced an arrest was imminent for George Zimmerman. AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)

MSNBC-TV host Rev Al Sharpton(L), Attorney Benjamin Crump(C) and mother Sybrina Fulton(Rt) are seen at a mid-day press conference regarding her slain son, Trayvon Martin, where they called for justice and the

The parents of Trayvon Martin, Tracy Martin (2L), and Sybrina Fulton (2R) watch a news conference from Washington, with special prosecutor Angela Corey announcing charges against George Zimmerman on April 11,

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Members of the National Action Network and members of the media watch as Florida Special Prosecutor Angela Corey announces that George Zimmerman has been charged with second degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin, April 11, 2012 in Washington, DC. Martin was killed by Zimmerman on February 26th while Zimmerman was on neighborhood watch patrol in the gated community of The Retreat at Twin Lakes, Florida. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 11: Members of the National Action Network and members of the media watch as Florida Special Prosecutor Angela Corey announces that George Zimmerman has been charged with second degree

State Attorney Angela Corey holds a news conference to announce second degree murder charges to be brought against defendant George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin shooting April 11, 2012 in Jacksonville,Florida. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin within a gated community in Sanford, Florida February 26, but was not charged with any crime at the time due to Florida's 'Stand Your Ground' self-defense law.

Special Prosecutor Angela B. Corey holds a press conference announcing that she is filing charges for second-degree murder against George Zimmerman, the shooter in the Trayvon Martin case, in Jacksonville, Florida, Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Zimmerman is in custody of law enforcement at this time. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

Special Prosecutor Angela B. Corey holds a press conference announcing that she is filing charges for second-degree murder against George Zimmerman, the shooter in the Trayvon Martin case, in Jacksonville,

Special Prosecutor Angela B. Corey holds a press conference announcing that she is filing charges for second-degree murder against George Zimmerman, the shooter in the Trayvon Martin case, in Jacksonville, Florida, Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Zimmerman is in custody of law enforcement at this time. (Gary W. Green/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

Special Prosecutor Angela B. Corey holds a press conference announcing that she is filing charges for second-degree murder against George Zimmerman, the shooter in the Trayvon Martin case, in Jacksonville,

People in the crowd stand and cheer during a news conference about the arrest of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

People in the crowd stand and cheer during a news conference about the arrest of George Zimmerman for the killing of Trayvon Martin, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11,

Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton speaks about the arrest of George Zimmerman for her son's killing, during a news conference at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton speaks about the arrest of George Zimmerman for her son's killing, during a news conference at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11,

People watch an announcement on television that George Zimmerman has been taken into custody for the killing of Trayvon Martin, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

People watch an announcement on television that George Zimmerman has been taken into custody for the killing of Trayvon Martin, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

State Attorney Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, center, announces that George Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin during a news conference Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin as he walked home in Sanford, Fla. on Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Wilson)

State Attorney Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, center, announces that George Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin during a

Trayvon Martin's father Tracy Martin, center, speaks to the media about the arrest of George Zimmerman, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trayvon Martin's father Tracy Martin, center, speaks to the media about the arrest of George Zimmerman, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn

A member of the media snaps a photo with an iPhone as State Attorney Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, announces that George Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin during a news conference Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin as he walked home in Sanford, Fla. on Feb. 26, 2012. (AP Photo/Rick Wilson)

A member of the media snaps a photo with an iPhone as State Attorney Angela Corey, special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin case, announces that George Zimmerman will be charged with second-degree murder in the

Television cameras surround U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown after a state attorney's press conference to make an announcement on the Trayvon Martin case Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Jacksonville, Fla. The neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin, 17, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder Wednesday after weeks of mounting tensions and protests across the U.S. George Zimmerman, 28, could get up to life in prison if convicted in the slaying of the unarmed black teenager. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Will Dickey)

Television cameras surround U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown after a state attorney's press conference to make an announcement on the Trayvon Martin case Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Jacksonville, Fla. The neighborhood

Satellite trucks from local, regional and national television networks line up along Market Street for a state attorney's press conference to make an announcement on the Trayvon Martin case Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. The neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin, 17, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder Wednesday after weeks of mounting tensions and protests across the U.S. George Zimmerman, 28, could get up to life in prison if convicted in the slaying of the unarmed black teenager. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Will Dickey)

Satellite trucks from local, regional and national television networks line up along Market Street for a state attorney's press conference to make an announcement on the Trayvon Martin case Wednesday, April 11,

Carter Eve Sr. offers a blessing as he, James Robinson and Jerome Horton, all friends of the Martin family listen, Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Miramar, Fla., as special prosecutor Angela Corey announces that George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin, 17, had been arrested and charged with second-degree murder Wednesday. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Carter Eve Sr. offers a blessing as he, James Robinson and Jerome Horton, all friends of the Martin family listen, Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Miramar, Fla., as special prosecutor Angela Corey announces that

State Sen. Curren Price, D-Los Angeles, wipes his eye as the Senate adjourned in memory of Trayvon Martin, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 29, 2012. More than a dozen Senators and Assembly members wore hooded sweat shirts on the floor of each chamber and ended the day's session in memory of the 17-year-old who was shot to death Feb. 26 by a neighborhood watch volunteer in a gated community in Sanford, Fla .

State Sen. Curren Price, D-Los Angeles, wipes his eye as the Senate adjourned in memory of Trayvon Martin, at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 29, 2012. More than a dozen Senators and

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The neighborhood watch volunteer who shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday after weeks of mounting tensions and protests across the U.S.

George Zimmerman, 28, could get up to life in prison if convicted in the slaying of the unarmed black teenager.

He arrived at the jail in Sanford, Fla., after turning himself in Wednesday night, hours after a special prosecutor announced the charge against him. He's expected to make his first court appearance on Thursday.

Television cameras showed black SUVs pulling into a loading area, but the suspect himself wasn't visible.

Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, says that his client will plead not guilty and asks that people not jump to conclusions about whether he's guilty.

Zimmerman has acknowedged shooting Martin but says it was in self-defense after the two got into a fight on Feb. 26.

Special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges but would not discuss how she arrived at them or disclose other details of her investigation, saying: "That's why we try cases in a courtroom."

Second-degree murder is typically brought in cases when there is a fight or other confrontation that results in death but involves no premeditation to kill. It carries a mandatory minimum of 25 years behind bars when a gun is used.

Martin's parents expressed relief over the decision to prosecute their son's killer.

"The question I would really like to ask him is, if he could look into Trayvon's eyes and see how innocent he was, would he have then pulled the trigger? Or would he have just let him go on home?" said his father, Tracy Martin.

Corey would not disclose Zimmerman's whereabouts for his safety but said that he will be in court within 24 hours, at which point he can request bail.

O'Mara said Zimmerman will invoke Florida's "stand your ground" law, which gives people wide leeway to use deadly force without having to retreat in the face of danger. The lawyer asked that people not jump to conclusions about his client's guilt and said he is "hoping that the community will calm down" now that charges have been filed.

"I'm expecting a lot of work and hopefully justice in the end," O'Mara said.

On Tuesday, Zimmerman's former lawyers portrayed him as erratic and in precarious mental condition. But O'Mara said Zimmerman was OK: "I'm not concerned about his mental well-being."

Zimmerman, whose father is white and whose mother is Hispanic, has asserted since the Feb. 26 killing in Sanford that he shot in self-defense after the teenager attacked him. Martin's family argued Zimmerman was the aggressor.

The shooting brought demands from black leaders for his arrest, touched off protests in which people wore hooded sweatshirts like the one the teenager had on, and set off a furious debate over race and self-defense that reached all the way to the White House, where President Barack Obama observed: "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon."

Separately, the U.S. Justice Department's civil rights division is conducting its own investigation.

Corey said the decision to bring charges was based on the facts and the law, declaring: "We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition."

One of the biggest hurdles to Zimmerman's arrest over the past month was Florida's "stand your ground" law, which affords strong protection to those who use deadly force.

Second-degree murder means a killing that was not premeditated but resulted instead from an "imminently dangerous act" that showed a "depraved" lack of regard for human life.

Some legal experts had predicted the prosecutor would instead bring a charge of manslaughter, which carries up to 15 years behind bars. It is defined as a death that results from a reckless but not a depraved act.

Corey repeatedly declined to answer questions about details in the case.

"So much information got released on this case that never should have been released. We have to protect this prosecution and this investigation for Trayvon, for George Zimmerman," she said.

Legal experts said Corey must have compelling evidence against Zimmerman if she chose to charge him with second-degree murder.

"That indicates they have evidence (Zimmerman) was chasing Trayvon because he was black," said Florida defense attorney Richard Hornsby. "It's difficult to think how one prosecutor didn't charge him at all and another thought there was enough evidence to justify a second-degree charge. It's a pretty drastic swing."

Tensions have risen in recent days in Sanford, a town of 50,000 outside Orlando. Someone shot up an unoccupied police car Tuesday as it sat outside the neighborhood where Martin was killed. And a demonstration by college students closed the town's police station Monday.

But as the hour of the prosecutor's announcement neared, the Martin family and their lawyer pleaded for calm.

Outside Sanford City Hall, Stacy Davis, a black woman, said she was glad to see arrested Zimmerman under arrest. "It's not a black or white thing for me. It's a right or wrong thing. He needed to be arrested," she said. "I'm happy because maybe that boy can get some rest."

Six weeks ago, Martin was returning to the home of his father's fiancee from a convenience store with Skittles candy and ice tea when Zimmerman, the neighborhood crime-watch captain in the gated townhouse community, started following him.

Zimmerman told police dispatchers: "This guy looks like he is up to no good — he is on drugs or something." The 911 dispatcher told him not to follow the young man.

At some point, the two got into a fight and Zimmerman used his gun.

Zimmerman told police Martin attacked him after he had given up chasing the teenager and was returning to his truck. He told detectives that Martin knocked him to the ground and began slamming his head on the sidewalk. Zimmerman's father said his son suffered a broken nose.

Amid the uproar of the failure to arrest Zimmerman, the local prosecutor disqualified himself from the case, and Gov. Rick Scott appointed Corey, the prosecutor for Jacksonville, to take it over.

Corey has tried hundreds of homicide cases and is known for hardball tactics and her passionate devotion to victims' rights. She said she met with Martin's "sweet parents" and prayed with them.

"We only know one category as prosecutors, and that's a 'V,'" she said at the news conference, referring to victims, and making a V with her fingers.

___

Farrington reported from Tallahassee, Fla.

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